Cluster-lamp socket.



No? 897,614. ATENTED SEPT. 1 -19%. C. D. GURVIN.

ULU TER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1908.

. different times. 40.

UNITED STATES PATENT" ormon 6 CHARLES n. GERVIN, or NEW YORK, .N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 THE-DALE oOMPANYJA coRPo- RA'rIoN or NEW YORK.

CLUSTER-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed February 14, 1908. Serial No. 415,857.

.city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Cluster- Lamp Sockets, of whlch the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

My invention relates to cluster lamp sockets, particularly of that type having a substantially hemispherical casin from which the lamps project symmetrically outward at a slight downward inclination. With a device of this class, it is important to have the lamp sockets constructed and supported as simply and cheaply as is consistent with strength and adequate insulating qualities.

By the present invention, 1 provide a very advanta eous construction in these respects, and furthermore, a construction by which a certain additional im ortant function or result is obtained, whic I believe is substantially new in receptacles of this class. This pu pose or object, broadly stated, lies'in providmg a means by which the lamps are adapted to be very simply fconnected in multiple under ordinary circumstances, corresponding.

to the nearly universal practical require-. ments for incandescent lamp circuits, but in which such multiple connection of the lamps is not made absolutely essential, since t e lamps may be connected in series multiple,- or in entirely se arate circuits, if desired. The series multip e requirement might arise on a .220-volt, or three wire circuit, and theseparate circuit requirement might arise w ere it was necessary to have different numbers of the'lamps in a socket illuminated at For example, a socket might have six lamps and be used in a situation where only one, or two, or four of these lamp: might be occasionally required. This con 'tion frequently arises where a maximum illumination is required during the early evening hours, while a very slight i1lumination is sufficient in the late evening and early morning hours when only a few persons are about.

It is therefore the object of'my invention to provide a multiple cluster socket adapted to all these needs and requirements, but which,-in ordinary use, is as easy to connect up and use as an socket which is specially built for only mu tiple work.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a multiple cluster socket embodying the principles ofmy invention and Fig. 2 an enlarged vertical'sectional View of the same with the casing removed.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference sign, 1 indicates a casin conveniently of spun sheet metal and which has peripheral openings 2 for the various lamp sockets.

3 designates the threaded or other shells received and held in the openings 2 by means of insulatin bushings 4. The various threaded shells are mechanically connected together by a central insulating block 5,

which has an additional function of support ing the center contacts.- I prefer to make all the center contacts part of a common metallic plate 7 fastenedon the lower side of. the block 5. A preferred construction is that shown, in which the block 5 is made of frus'toconical form with inclined side faces 8 along which project upwardly the prongs 9 from the plate '7, and which .constitute the center contacts for the lamps. are fastened to the block 5 by bifurcated segmental clips 10 which straddle the prongs Q in sufficiently spacedap'art relation therefrom for the purposes ofadequate insulation. At their extremlties, the bifurcated portions of the segments 10 are deflected upward and riveted, or otherwise fastened to the threaded shells at points 11.v 5

The essential characteristic of the segmental clips 10 is that they are entirely separate and in insulated relation from one another. Their inner 'apexes 13 terminate at points slightly short of the central axis of the cluster, and are all separated at such points by a distance adequate for the purposes of insulation. If desired, these inner apexes may normally have a slight upwardly directed tendency so as to be capable of a slight downwardly yielding movement. The separate segmental clips 10' are conveniently fastened. on the base 5 by screws or rivets 14, and I further propose to havethe bifurcated 6X- tremities 10" embrace integral bosses or protuberances 15 on the upper face of said block 5, so as to be absolutely anchored against lateral displacement at this point. I further make useof-the bosses or protuber ances 15' as accessible points for screws 16 which pass downward through the block 5.,

and secure the center contact plate? in position. The advantage of. this arrangement is two foldq first, that the screws are always accessible, and, second, an insulating barrier is provided by the bosses 15 separating said screws from the surrounding bifurcated clips 10. One of the'bosses'or protuberances 15 is much higher than the others, the screw 16 therefore being correspondii'igly lengthened. This'latter screw 16 constitutes convenient binding post for the common circuit wire connection to the center contact plate 7.

The foregoing construction is substantially complete for certain urposes, but as an article of manufacture," provide a central screw 17 received in a nut 18 within the block, and

engaging a loose metallic washer 19 which has sufficient diameter to overlie all of the apexes 13 of the bifurcated clips 10. If the screw 17 is tightened downward, the Washer 19 is pressed into electrical engagement or connection with all of said clips.- On the other hand, when the screw and washer are removed, the clips are entirely separate. from one another.

The use and operation is as follows: Ordinarily, the cluster socket will be used for multiple wiring, and simply connected by engaging one circuit wire under the screw terminal 16, and the other circuit wire under the screw 17. When the screws are tightened, all circuitconnectious are made, since the, tightening action cifectuallydepresses the washer 19 into electrical engagement with allthe bifurcated segments 10. No further connections or any soldering or taping or compounding are required, and the receptacle, in all senses, is adapted to most convenient work for multiple cluster use. But any party who desires to wire'his clusters in a different way is not prevented from doing so. For example, if the. lamps are de' sired in entirely separate circuits, it is merely necessary to connect onereturn Wire to the post 16, and the other separate circuit wires to the individual segments 10. The latter connections will, of course, have to be soldered and compounded, but a slight amount of extra trouble in this unusual use is not at all objectionable. If 1 10 volt lamps are used with a 220 volt or three-wire circuit, it is merely necessary to connect one circuit wire to half the segments and the other circuit wire to the other half of the segments. there is a neutral wire, it may be connected to the post 16, and if there is no neutral wire, this connection is omitted. It will therefore be seen that this form of multiple receptacle is adapted to all needs which arise in ordinary practice, and at the same time, is fitted for the maximum possible .convenience for ordinary multiple use.

What I claim, is

1.. In a cluster socket, a casing having a plurality of shells, metallic clips connectedto said shells and extending in proximity toa common point but out of contact with one.

one another, a birn ing post acting to connect all of said clips together and establish a cir cuit connection therewith, and means afford-' ing center contact-s.

S. In a clustersocket, a casing, a plurality of shells, clips projecting from said shells toward a common oint and insulatedfrom one another, a bining post actingto connect all of said clips together and establish a circuit connection therewith, and a single metallic plate having prongs constituting center contacts for all of said shells.

4. In a cluster socket, a casing having" threaded shells, bifurcated clips projecting inward therefrom toward a. common point and electricallyinsulated from one another,. center contacts pro ecting between the b1- furcated portions of said clips, and means for simultaneously engaging a circuit wire and establishing a connection between said clips. a

- 5. In a cluster socket, a casing having threaded shells, bifurcatedclips projecting inward therefrom toward a common point and electrically insulated from one another,

center contacts projecting between the bifurcated portions of said clips, and a screw and washer for simultaneously engaging a circuit wire and electrically. connecting said clips.

6.v In a cluster socket, a casing having'a plurality of shells, bifurcated clips projecting inward therefrom, and electrically insulated from one another, and a single plate having prongs between the bifurcations of said clips and constituting center contacts.

\ 7. In a cluster socket, a casing having a plurality of shells, bifurcated cli s projectinginward therefrom and electrica lyinsulated from oneanoth'er, an insulating block con-' necting said clips and having bosses or protuberances between the bifurcated portions thereof whereby saidclips are supported, a plate having prongs constituting center con tacts, and, means passed through said bosses for holding said terminal plate to said block.-

8. In a cluster socket, a casing having a plurality of shells, bifurcated cli s projecting nward-therefrom and electrica ly insulated 5 fromone another, an insulating block. connecting said chps and having bosses or pro- 'tuberances between the bifurcatedportions thereof wherebyfsaid'clips are supported, a plate having prongs constituting center co'ntacts,and means passed through saidbosses for holding said center contact plate to said I, block, one of said HIGH-DS'CODStllJUtlllg a ter 1 ininal connection therefor.

9. In a cluster socket, an insulating block of frusto-vconical form, a metallic plate on the I lower face thereof and having prongs extend- 1 ingupward onthe flaring conical surface, separate bifurcated clips on the upper face 1 of said block embracing said prongs, and threaded shells attached to said clips.

10. In a cluster socket, an insulating block of frusto-c0nical form, a metallic plate on the lower face thereof and having prongs extending u ward on the flaring conical surface, bifurcate clips on the upper face of said block emhracitv said prongs, threaded shells attached to said clips, and means for engaging a circuit wire and establishing an electrical connect-ion between said clips.

11. In a cluster socket, a casing having threaded shells, segmental bifurcated clips extending inward therefrom toward a common point and having their inner ends slightly deflected upward, means affording center contacts, a single screw, and means engaged by said screw for simultaneously makin electrical connection with all of the upturned portions of said clips.

12. in a cluster socket, a casing having threaded shells, segmental bifurcated clips. extending inward therefrom toward a common point and having their. inner ends slightly deflected upward, means affording center cont acts, a single screw, 5 nd a washer engaged by said screw for simultaneously making electrical connection with all of the upturned portions of said clips.

13. In a cluster socket, threaded shells having separate clips extending inwardly therefrom, an insulating block having bosses or protuberances on its upper face passing through said clips, and means affording cen ter contacts.

In Witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presenceof two witnesses.

CHARLES D. GERVIN.

Witnesses:

WALDO GHAPIN, ALFRED PROCTOR. 

